The driver at the centre of a fatal car crash which tore the Falkholt family apart had been jailed four times and had over 60 serious traffic convictions to his name.
Revelations of Craig Whitall’s shocking driving record come as the lone survivor, Jessica Falkhort, had her life support switched off on Thursday night.
The 28-year-old Home and Away actress’s family made the heartbreaking decision just one day after the funeral of her father Lars, mother Vivian and sister Annabelle.
Craig Whitall, 50, crashed his Toyota Prado four-wheel-drive into the Falkholt’s family car while driving home from a methadone clinic on the New South Wales south coast, south of Sydney, on Boxing Day.
It has been revealed Whitall – who also died in the fiery collision – had served four jail sentences for traffic offences, was banned for driving for nine years and had at least 10 convictions for driving while disqualified, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Craig Whitall, 50, crashed his Toyota Prado four-wheel-drive into the Falkholt’s car while driving home from a methadone clinic. Details of his shocking driving history have been revealed
Home and Away actress Jessica Falkholt had her life support switched off on Thursday night
Jessica’s parents Lars, 69, and Vivian, 60, as well as her sister Annabelle, 21, died in the crash
Home and Away actress Jessica Falkholt had her life support switched off on Thursday evening, a close family member confirmed to Daily Mail Australia.
Jessica’s extended family had kept a bedside vigil in the Intensive Care Unit at St George Hospital where she was in a medically induced coma.
They previously told Daily Mail Australia an operation on her brain ‘went well’ and they were waiting for the results of the surgery.
Her parents Lars, 69, and Vivian, 60, died at the crash scene on the Princes Highway near Sussex Inlet, south of Sydney.
Annabelle, 21, was flown to Liverpool Hospital in a critical condition, where she died as a result of her injuries on December 29.
It has been revealed Whitall – who also died in the fiery crash – had served four jail sentences for traffic offences
Four of Craig Whitall’s convictions for driving without a licence came in the same month
Lars, Vivian and Annabelle were remembered by hundreds of family and friends at St Mary’s Catholic Church at Concord in Sydney’s west on Wednesday
Whitall, the driver of the other car involved in the crash, claimed a disability pension and used 28 aliases to avoid police, reports claim.
His 26-year-old son Shane appeared in court on Thursday charged with dangerous and recklessly driving an uninsured Toyota Camry in Ulladulla in September.
Four of Craig Whitall’s convictions for driving without a licence came in the same month and he was caught twice in two days in 1998 driving without a licence.
Police in Ulladulla reportedly knew Whitall well, and often recognised him driving behind the wheel when he was not legally allowed to.
In March 2011 he was spotted driving a white Holden Commodore and police followed him home, only for them to tell police it was his mum who was driving.
Heartbroken family made the decision to turn the life support of for Home and Away actress Jessica Falkholt on Thursday night
Her parents and sister (pictured above) were remembered by hundreds of family and friends at St Mary’s Catholic Church at Concord in Sydney’s west on Wednesday
According to court documents, in April 2008 Whitall was convicted of assaulting a young family member because he was ‘angry’ and the child was often in trouble with police.
Whitall was jailed for nine months for driving while disqualified in August 2004, after a court had banned him from driving from July 2004 to July 2013.
One year later he was declared a habitual traffic offender at Nowra Local Court, after being convicted of three serious driving offences in five years.
Whitall was convicted three times for drunk driving, once for driving under the influence of drugs and twice for dangerous driving.
Jordan Brohier (pictured left), the shattered boyfriend of Annabelle Falkholt, joined hundreds of mourners to farewell her and her parents
Friends and family stand with wreaths and photos of the deceased trio as the coffins left St Mary’s Catholic Church in Sydney’s inner west after the service
Witnesses told police they saw Whitall’s Prado swerving on the opposite side of the road moments before the crash.
He was driving on P-plates at the time after getting his licence back a year earlier.
The coronial investigation into the crash will focus on whether Mr Whitall was under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash.
‘He was an awesome father, the best. I couldn’t ask for anything more of him,’ his son Shane told Seven News.
‘He did what he could and that’s all you can ask of anyone. He was my hero in my eyes, he was my idol.’
Another family member described the reaction to the fatal crash as ‘very hurtful’ and said Mr Whitall liked his privacy.
‘It’s very hurtful for me to think they’re talking about Craig like that, he was very private and didn’t like people talking about him,’ the woman said.
‘He’s got grand-kids that are listening to it.’
Whitall was reportedly driving home from a methadone clinic before the fatal crash on the NSW south coast
He was driving on P-plates at the time after getting his licence back a year earlier